Goals & Mission of the Firm

How we got started

Ohio is uniquely positioned to become a leader in Venture Capital activity, with world-class research, leading customers, and partners in sectors such as healthcare, financial services, industrial products and consumer packaged goods, and a talented, loyal, and highly productive employee base.

Leveraging his Silicon Valley experience, founder Bill Baumel joined with founding partners The Ohio State University and Ohio University and additional anchor partner Kent State University, among other investors, to create the next generation of companies and industries for Ohio. The vision was collaborative in nature, promoting growth for all affected entities to impact the region positively.

What is a VC firm?

Venture Capital, or VC, is a type of private equity provided to emerging firms with high potential for growth. Growth rates approaching or exceeding 100% are the norm for successful VC-backed companies in their early years. While success of a company is very rewarding for investors, employees, and the entire community, the “multiplier” effect of success is enormous, creating and evolving industries and spawning multiple new start-ups.

BILL BAUMEL

Managing Director

Prior to the Ohio Innovation Fund, Bill was a partner with RWI Ventures, a venture capital firm in Silicon Valley. He has over twenty years of experience investing in such areas as SaaS, big data, cyber security, and med tech – resulting in…

JILL RADERSTORF

Senior Associate

Jill began her career as a Risk Management Examiner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, leading risk management examinations of banks ranging from $100 million to $1B+ in asset size. She then shifted to the private…

It’s really exciting to be a part of the entreprenurial ecosystem in Ohio. Working with our portfolio company founders is extremely rewarding. We are thrilled to see the impact they have within their communities.

- Jill Raderstorf, Senior Associate, OIF

Our difference

With significant Silicon Valley Experience and a history of multiple successful exits, OIF has created proprietary Investment Criteria. These are derived from General Partner insights that have historically generated a high rate of success.

Managing Director Bill Baumel’s more than 15 years of Silicon Valley expertise include successful exits in technology, life sciences, and advanced materials sectors. These exits range from $100 million to over $1 billion valuations. An alumnus of The Ohio State University with an MBA from that “School up North” (University of Michigan), some of his greatest experience is in building strong investment syndicates to allow companies to reach their full potential.

Managing Director Bill Baumel’s more than 15 years of Silicon Valley expertise include successful exits in technology, life sciences, and advanced materials sectors. These exits range from $100 million to over $1 billion valuations.

Our Process

Through significant partnerships, capital, and expertise, Ohio Innovation Fund works to identify high-potential emerging firms and support their growth.

Our university and industry partners, along with our network, provide expert due diligence and consultation.

The Fund acts as the necessary bridge between initial angel or ESP programs and the more abundant later stage funding.

Our Goals

Our first goal is generating venture capital rates of return. We collaborate with Ohio’s universities and research institutions to facilitate the leveraging and widespread adoption of their technologies. The development of new industries in Ohio creates expanded start-up employment opportunities for Ohio students and employees. We attract new entrepreneurs to the state and retain existing. We partner with co-investors from outside the state to bring additional capital over 11 times what we invest.

Why become an
OIF limited partner?

Involvement in OIF allows for the opportunity to be a part of the best and brightest companies in the state. We welcome your involvement in the future of Ohio.